Chapter 43: Explanation

Chapter 43: Explanation

The situation before them was not only unexpected by the Sword Leader of Qijue Hall.

It was also beyond the expectations of Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun.

However, after exchanging a glance, they didn't hesitate and immediately retreated...

The thief on the ground, who had stolen something from Qijue Hall, was also retreating...

But he was already injured and could barely crawl, so he could only struggle to pull himself back with his arms, trying to get out of the fight.

Yang Xiaoyun, being kind-hearted, saw his difficulty and extended her spear to give him a hand.

The man turned to look at Yang Xiaoyun and quickly said, "Thank you."

He grabbed the spear shaft, and with Yang Xiaoyun's effortless flick, the over a hundred-pound man was lifted as if weightless and tossed to the other side.

As Yang Xiaoyun retracted her spear, the fighting had already begun on the other side.

At a glance, Yang Xiaoyun sneered, "What a Sword Leader."

For after the fighting started, the Sword Leader actually retreated behind everyone else.

The disciples formed an array to face the enemy, surrounding the sword borrower.

This was the first time Su Mo had seen a martial arts formation used in combat, and he couldn't help but be curious, "What kind of formation is this?"

"The signature formation of Qijue Hall's Sword Hall, the [Small Earthly Fiend Xuankun Sword Formation]."

"Small?"

Su Mo thought for a moment, "Thirty-six Heavenly Stems and seventy-two Earthly Branches, where does the 'small' come from?"

"Because neither the sword technique nor the formation is complete..."

Yang Xiaoyun explained, "In the past, someone from the Sword Hall of Qijue Hall stumbled upon a secret place and discovered the seventy-two Earthly Fiend Swords. Unfortunately, there was another person with him, and they were enemies. They fought over the sword manual, ultimately splitting it into two parts, each taking the first thirty-six swords.

"To say that the predecessor of the Sword Hall was unlucky, he took half the manual, but under severe injury, he was ambushed and robbed of the manual again. Although he managed to fend off the attacker, he lost another eighteen swords, leaving him with only eighteen.

"When he returned to Qijue Hall, he closed the door to heal and diligently studied these eighteen incomplete sword techniques, eventually creating the [Earthly Fiend Xuankun Sword] technique.

"This sword technique was remarkable, but unfortunately, compared to the original seventy-two Earthly Fiend Swords, it lacked fifty-four moves, making it inferior.

"He was unwilling to accept this and repeatedly refined the eighteen moves, unable to complete them but eventually forming the [Earthly Fiend Xuankun Sword Formation].

"With eighteen people forming the formation, it concealed its sharpness ingeniously.

"This became the signature skill of the Sword Hall.

"But thinking about the original, he felt regret and added the prefix 'small' to the formation, remembering the past hatred.

"There was also the intention to encourage future disciples to complete the formation."

Iron Blood Escort Agency, with Yang Yizhi's extensive experience, told Yang Xiaoyun this story as a tale.

Now recounting it, he spoke fluently, but then sneered, "Unfortunately, in recent years, Qijue Hall has become less formidable. The disciples using this formation have likely forgotten the past grievances of their predecessors."

Su Mo nodded slightly, his gaze never leaving the battle.

He saw that the sword borrower was incredibly skilled.

Though unarmed, he moved freely among the sword blades as if walking on flat ground.

The [Small Earthly Fiend Xuankun Sword Formation] was no ordinary formation, but it seemed ineffective against this person.

Suddenly, he casually grabbed a disciple of Qijue Hall, and without warning, the disciple lost his sword.

Terrified, the disciple thought he would die, but the sword borrower spat in disgust, "Rubbish sword."

After saying this, he broke the blade with a clang, just as he had done before.

Then, the sword borrower used his hands to grab or seize, and the disciples of Qijue Hall, stunned, found their swords gone.

Their long swords had all fallen into the hands of the sword borrower.

With both hands holding the swords, he casually flung them into the air.

Dozens of swords flashed in the sky as the sword borrower looked up and sighed deeply. Then, with a sudden movement of his sleeves, invisible sword qi struck, producing a series of clanging sounds.

All the swords shattered and fell around him.

"A pile of scrap metal, none worthy of being called a sword."

Without their swords, the [Small Earthly Fiend Xuankun Sword Formation] was broken. Intimidated by the sword borrower's display, the disciples of Qijue Hall dared not step forward.

The sword borrower glanced at the Sword Leader, "Where is your sword?"

Hearing this, the Sword Leader instinctively clutched his sword, his expression changing rapidly:

"You, who are you?"

"...Didn't I say? I'm the one borrowing the sword."

The sword borrower spoke softly.

Who would believe such nonsense?

The Sword Leader, reflecting on his extensive travels and experiences in the martial world, found that none of the renowned swordsmen he knew matched the appearance and skills of this person.

For a moment, he frowned deeply, hesitating.

However, upon looking at Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun, he finally sighed, "Enough, enough. Today, I will give you face and not trouble these two inexperienced youngsters. Farewell."

With those words, he waved his hand, and the disciples of Qijue Hall immediately turned to leave.

"Hold it."

Su Mo suddenly spoke up.

"What do you want?"

A flash of hostility crossed the Sword Leader's eyes.

Su Mo gently shook his head:

"Although we are newcomers and not notable figures, escorting goods should be done with kindness towards others.

"However, your actions today—twisting facts and distorting truth—are unacceptable. If not for the help of this...borrowed swordsman, an ordinary person would have been at your mercy.

"Now that your plan has failed, you wish to leave... There is no such easy way out in this world.

"Sword Leader, if you do not give me an explanation, it would be unjust."

"Young fool, you have some courage. What kind of explanation do you seek?"

The Sword Leader's face darkened as he glared at Su Mo.

"That depends on what the senior offers."

"My life! Come and take it if you can!"

The Sword Leader still harbored some caution towards the borrowed swordsman but had no such reservations about Su Mo.

His arrogance was overwhelming.

Yang Xiaoyun glanced at Su Mo, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Su Mo smiled faintly, "Since the senior is so generous, I cannot refuse."

With those words, Su Mo stepped forward.

In a few strides, he passed the borrowed swordsman, who looked at Su Mo, then lightly shook his head and moved to lean against a tree trunk, tilting his head as if intending to sleep.